INDIANAPOLIS -- Junior distance runner Chris Skelly (Pepperell, Mass.) of the UMass Lowell Cross Country/Track and Field team attended the NCAA Convention from January 17-20 as the Division I SAAC Representative for the America East Conference, which was held at the NCAA headquarters.

Skelly represented the America East Conference in all national SAAC meeting at the Convention. He was one of 32 student-athletes to attend the convention of behalf of each Div. I conference.  The Div. I National SAAC representatives were able to learn about the NCAA, the structure, and then vote on proposed legislation to be the voice of the student-athlete. Their vote is then shared in many meetings held within the Convention so administrators understand their position in key proposals. 

"We had a big impact, they are currently worked on transfer related rules", said Skelly. "They are taking our opinions and putting them directly into the rules. So what we said is actually starting to go through the process of becoming new legislation. Attending these conferences gets your mind racing about how we can improve the America East Conference and UMass Lowell."

The mission of the National Student-Athlete Advisory Committees is to enhance the total student-athlete experience by promoting opportunity, protecting student-athlete welfare and fostering a positive student-athlete image.